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Potential (Math)

Potential Energy( MATHS) Potential energy is energy which results from position or configuration. An object may have the capacity for doing work as a result of its position in a gravitational field (gravitational potential energy), an electric field (electric potential energy), or a magnetic field (magnetic potential energy). It may have elastic potential energy as a result of a stretched spring or other elastic deformation. Potential Energy Function If a force acting on an object is a function

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48 views3 pages

Potential (Math)

Potential Energy( MATHS) Potential energy is energy which results from position or configuration. An object may have the capacity for doing work as a result of its position in a gravitational field (gravitational potential energy), an electric field (electric potential energy), or a magnetic field (magnetic potential energy). It may have elastic potential energy as a result of a stretched spring or other elastic deformation. Potential Energy Function If a force acting on an object is a function

Uploaded by

Anurag Malik
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Potential Energy( MATHS)

Potential energy is energy which results from position or configuration. An object


may have the capacity for doing work as a result of its position in a gravitational field
(gravitational potential energy), an electric field (electric potential energy), or a
magnetic field (magnetic potential energy). It may have elastic potential energy as a
result of a stretched spring or other elastic deformation.

Potential Energy Function


If a force acting on an object is a function of position only, it is said to be a
conservative force, and it can be represented by a potential energy function which for
a one-dimensional case satisfies the derivative condition

The integral form of this relationship is

which can be taken as a definition of potential energy. Note that there is an


arbitraryconstant of integration in that definition, showing that any constant can be
added to the potential energy. Practically, this means that you can set the zero of
potential energy at any point which is convenient.
Potential Energy Concept
The potential energy U is equal to the work you must do to move
an object from the U=0 reference point to the position r. The
reference point at which you assign the value U=0 is arbitrary, so
may be chosen for convenience, like choosing the origin of a
coordinate system.

The force on an object is the negative of the derivative of the


potential function U. This means it is the negative of the slope of
the potential energy curve. Plots of potential functions are
valuable aids to visualizing the change of the force in a given
region of space.

Negative Signs in Potential


F in the definition of potential energy is the force exerted by the
force field, e.g., gravity, spring force, etc. The potential energy U
is equal to the work you must do against that force to move an
object from the U=0 reference point to the position r. The force
you must exert to move it must be equal but oppositely directed,
and that is the source of the negative sign. The force exerted by
the force field always tends toward lower energy and will act to
reduce the potential energy.

The negative sign on the derivative shows that if the potential U


increases with increasing r, the force will tend to move it toward
smaller r to decrease the potential energy.
Potential Energy Derivative
If the potential energy function U is known, the force at any point can be obtained by
taking the derivative of the potential.

Potential Energy Integral


If the force is known, and is a conservative force, then the potential energy can be
obtained by integrating the force.

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